October 17

No Bass, Lots Of BS

By Ella Miista

Meghan Trainor singing about sound frequencies is catchy and it’s making people talk about body issues. Not because Meghan Trainor isn’t a size two, but because she actually says that in her song. I think the sound frequencies are an elaborate metaphor for fat people. I’m fat. Want to know what’s the most annoying thing about it? It’s not being fat. It’s not other people judging me, nor is it even that I’m judging myself. It’s whenever a fat person does something cool, she (almost always a she) gets celebrated for being a fat person that did something cool. Even if it’s not actually cool. I’m fully aware people mean no harm by that. But, there are two things wrong with this. First, we overlook their actual talent and focus on the fact they’re talented despite being fat. Secondly we’re too scared to speak out if they’re actually full of it. Take that Megan Trainor’s song. I’m somewhat miffed with it because: a) It’s not that great of a song b) She’s having a go at skinny people c) She’s saying it’s male attention not your weight that matters. So… Insecurity. It’s a bitch, or rather, it can turn you into one. It’s pretty difficult to be nice when you’re really struggling accepting yourself. It’s just so easy to make yourself feel better when you bring someone else down. But, that’s not cool. Making snarky comments at others won’t make you smarter, prettier or more talented. It will just make you a bitch, an insecure bitch. I’m not saying Meghan Trainor is one. ‘Skinny bitches’ is almost like a buzzword; she probably thought it just sounded catchy. She also suggests later on in the song said skinny bitches all actually think they’re fat too. Wait, so being fat is bad? Mixed signals here, but I’m not going to waste time trying to find clarity and sense in a pop song. The issue I have is that by flippantly spilling these buzzwords she isn’t paving way for body acceptance. She’s stressing the whole ‘real women have curves’ stereotype, which you know, is a load of bollocks. She then feigns confusion, saying to Pop Justice: “I would never shame a skinny person! I don’t know who would want to.” Then there’s the part where she sings about boys wanting something to hold onto. So, some bodies actually are better than others because that’s what men say. It’s the essential mantra of an insecure person. Her comment on this was: “I don’t know, man! I just wrote a fun song about loving your booty and loving your body! I never had a problem getting boys.” This isn’t confidence but outside validation. Sometimes it really helps when you’re feeling down about yourself, but don’t mistake it for anything else. I wholeheartedly get it. You can be smart and talented and funny but if you’re fat, there’s always that fear lurking at the back of your head that what if you will never find someone to look past your frame. It’s difficult to get over that, so difficult, but if you don’t, no one else will either. That can’t come from outside. Fake it until you make it, maybe? “You’re the least insecure person I know,” is a sentence I’ve heard so many times in my adult life I can’t even keep track of it. But I’m not, or at least I wasn’t until I realised my insecurities were getting in my way of a good time. I’m just too big (lol) of a Man Repeller fan to have my belly stop me from wearing cool clothes. I’m certainly not going to have a miserable existence because of it. If you need a boy to get you there, so be it, but it’s much better to do it on your own terms. That way no one else gets to shoot you down. That’s being confident.